Boiler blow-off and refilling system



July 7, 1931. F. w, MILLER BOILER BLOW-OFF AND REFILLING SYSTEM Filed4May 5, 1925 Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK W.MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANOLARE COMPANY, OF

` CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BOILER BLOW-OFF ANDREFILLING SYSTEM Application filed May 5, 1923. Serial No. 636,835.

This invention pertains generally to boiler washing and refillingsystems, and has more particular reference vto improvements forconserving Y heat units and increasing the efficiency ofk such a system.

One of the primary features of this invention resides in they provisionof improved means for condensing the blow-,off steam and also theexhaust steam `from the pumps and other steam operated apparatus in thepower plant, which condensed steam and the heat units contained thereinare delivered to the refill water tank for boiler refilling purposes.

Another feature of'this invention is the l5 provision in a system of theabove type of means for condensing the steam which is blown off, bywater from the refilling tank thereby-maintaining the temperature of therefilling water as high as possible.

2@ A stillfurther feature of this invention is the provision inconnection with the system ofthe above type of means for automaticallyadmitting condensing water to the condenser when steam to be'condensedis blown into such condenser.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I haveillustratedY on the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof,the single figure of the drawing being a fragmentary elevation of somuch of a boiler washing and refilling system as is necessary for anunderstanding of my invention. Y L

- Referring to the drawing more in detail,

" reference characters 5, 6, and 7 indicate, re-

spectively7 a refill drop, a'blow-off drop, and

a washout drop, adjacent one of the pits in a roundhouse. The washoutdrop 7 is connected with the washout line 8, whichV receives the washoutwater at suitable temperature from a washout tank (not shown), the

washout circulating line 9 being connected to return washout water 'fromthe end of the washout line to the tank for the purpose ofv water inconsiderable quantities may be -de- 95 maintaining a circulation in theline.

The blow-off drop 6 is connected with the .blow-off line 11, which hasinterposed therein a separator v1 0 of well knownv or preferredconstruction adapted to separate the blow-ofi' Y steam and water, andfrom which' the blow-Y off water is delivered into the washout tankthrough pipe 20, and the blow-off steam is conducted through thecontinuation 12 of the blow-off line to a T 13 connected with a pipe 14extending below the water level in the refill tank 15, and with a pipe16 adapted to discharge into the condenser 17. This condenser may be ofany preferred construction, preferably of the injector type, and thedischarge pipe 18 therefrom is also adapted to deliver into the tank 15.

The refill water is withdrawn from the tank 15 for refilling purposesthrough the 4 pipe SOby the refill pump 19, from which it 1s deliveredthrough the pipe 21 into the refill line 22, extending into theroundhouse, and to which the refill drop 5 is connected. A refillcirculating line 23 is connected at one end with the end of the refillline, and at its other end is adapted to deliver through a nozzle 24into the condenser 17. The refill pump is adapted to operatecontinuously at slow speed to maintain a circulation in the refill line,the refilling water being returned through the circulating line 23 intothe con- 7 denser, where it commingles with the blowoff steam deliveredby the pipe 16, serving thereby to condense this steam7 and being thenreturned with the condensed steam to the refill tank.

Since the limited amountof ,water returned by the relatively smallcirculating pipe 28 is ordinarily insufiicient to condense anyconsiderable proportion of the blow-off steam delivered during a blowingoff operation, I

v have provided means for delivering addition- 'al water to thecondenser7 as will now be described.

vA pipe 25 connected to the refill line by means of a T 26 is connectedalso at 27 Vwith the refill circulatingline, and since this line betweenthe connection 27 and the nozzle is preferably of larger capacitythanthe main portion of the refill circulating line,

livered directly from the pump 19 into the condenser. ForA the purposeof automatically shutting offA the pipe 25, when noblowing-off operationis being performed, I have interposed in the pipe 25 a control valve 28"m adapted to be automatically actuated by a thermostatic device 29interposed in the blo-woff line 12. When no blow-oii' steam is passingthrough the blow-off line, this element will close the valve 28,shutting off direct flow of water from the pump to the condenser, butwhenl a..blo\vingf,;off*operation is being performed, thtev'teniperatureof the blow-off steam will actuate the thermostaticvelement .29,.tothereby`v open .the valveAA 28 and permit :the delivery of auxiliarywaterv directv from the pump into the condenser for condensing purposes.

The water in the tank l5 is replenished by delivering cold, fresh waterthereto, and'this'v water is also utilized for condensing ,the

' steamv delivered to` the .tank Agwater supply line 3'l'isaccordinglyconnected 'to the Vecondenser17, theY pipepreferably enteringthe side'thereof', and vdelivery .of water through this pipe isregulated by avalve 32, automaticallycontroll'ed'by a" maximum water.level float 33. lVhenever 'the liquid levelin the tanky lffallsbelowthi-s maximum level, the valve V32 is ropened'to deliver water tothe tanki This water'may'be deliveredleither into the condenser. 17, asVexplained, or if the shut-ofi valve 34'interposed. in the pipe 31 beclosed, thewater is thendelivered through a branch 35 intoasecond'condenser 36, which l lIfithe refilling demands upon .the tank15' shouldbe greaterv than the replenishment of' the tank through thepipe 31,:thewater level therein will fall-"until a minimum desirablewater level is reached, whereupon a minimum-,level f1oat.42 will openavalve 43 in the auxiliaryvwater supply,` pipe 44, permittingA thedelivery of 1'additional water to replenish v the tank. The pipe 44discharges, as will' be apparent, laterally into the condenser 36 'sothat this water also is utilized forl vcondensr- Y ing the exhauststeam.

It willbe apparent, therefore, that'the blow-off steam from thelocomotives, and ,the` exhaust steam from theunits inthe power house, isall conserved'an'd delivered to the refill tank. All of the 4,water alsowhich is delivered toy this tank Jfor replenishing pur-V poses, isdischarged either into the blowoff Asteam'condenser :17, or `the*exhaust steam condenser 36 to condense the steam, therebyv preventingwaste by loss of steam escaping from the tank. Theblow-off`steam iscondensed by cold lwater:delivered `from the 'suitablesource 'through'.a steam sup plyy lwater is supplemented by refill water deliveredthrough the pipe 25 under control of r1'the thermostatically actuatedvalve 28. The

exhaust steam is condensed in the condenser 36 by water from thepipesz3la'nd, 35whenever the water level in the tank is below themaxim-um controlled by the oat 33, and such additional waterasfisdelivered-through they pipe44under controlfofthe minimum levelfloat 42 is also discharged into the condenser 36* for"condensingpurposes.

Various modifications Vof the specific arrangementv disclosed'.E mayobviously be resorted to, without departing from theA essence/oftheinvention, as defined in the following claims.

Ielaim: A

l; In a boiler blow-oiiand refilling system, the combination of arefillwater tank, a blow-off 'steam line, adapted to-deliver into said tank, acondenser interposedin said'line, a relill line connected l"tofsaidtank', a circu lating line connected A'atone end with' the refill line-`and latits other end'lwith. said condenser, .a branch line leadingfromthe refill line tothe condenser, avalve in said branch line, meansadapted to .be actuated'by the4 steam in the blow-ofi" line forcontrolling said valve for regulatingthe-flow of'refill water through-saidfbranchA line to the c'ondenser. i.

2. Ina boiler blow-ofi and 'relilling system, the. combinationvofarefill= water tank, a blow-off steam. line connected to said tank, acondenser vinterposed'in said line, an 'exhaust' steam line connected.to said tank, a. second condenser interposed in said exhaustl steamf,line, a circulating line connected to deliver circulating water to saidfirst condenser, Athermostatieally controlled means for. def liv-eringrefill'water to said lfirst condenser, and means controlled by f thewater level `in the tank for deliveringfcold water to both of saidcondensers. Y e Y 3; In a boiler blow-off and .refilling` system,

the combination ofa refillv walter tank. anda refill line connected`thereto, a-blow-o"`line, a

condenser connected 'with said blow-offline i and discharging into saidtan-k, a circulating,k pipe from said refill line to-,said condenser, anlexhaust'steam line connected 'with'. the tank, al secondcondenserinterposed lin said exhaust steam line, Ya cold water pipecon-- nectedwith said first condenser, means controlled by the waterL level in saidtank for condenser, apump andy arelill main connected' toy said, tank, ablow-ofi:l steamline'connected by the water level in the tank forregulating rthe delivery of replenishing water through said pipe intothe condenser, a return circulating line connected with -said main andsaid condenser for circulating water through vsaid main back into thetank, and thermostatically controlled means for delivering additionalwater from the refill tank to said condenser. 5. In a boiler blow-oft'and refilling system, the combination of a refill water tank, a blowoffsteam line, an exhaust steam line, condensers connected to said lines,respectively, a discharge connection from each condenser to said tank,mean-s for delivering replenishing water to the blow-off line condenser,means for delivering return circulating refill water to the blow-o linecondenser, means for delivering refill water to said blow-off linecondenser, means controlled by the maximum water level in the refilltank for regulating the delivery of replenishing water to the blow-off'line condenser, means controlled by the steam in said steam line forregulating the delivery of said refill water to said condenser, meanscontrolled by the maximum water level in said tank for regulating thedelivery of repleni-shing water to the exhaust line condenser and meanscontrolled by the minimum level of said tank for regulating the deliveryof replenishing water to said exhaust line condenser. 6. In a boilerblow-off and refilling system, the combination of a refill water tankand a refill line connected thereto, a blow-off line, a separator insaid line for separating the blow-ofil steam and water, a pipe forconducting said blow-ofin steam from the separator to the tank, acondenser connected with said pipe and said tank, a connection from saidrefill line to said condenser, thermostatic means for controlling theflow or refill water from said line to said condenser, a circulatingline for returning refill lwater from the end of the refill line to thecondenser, an exhaust steam line connected with the tank, a secondcondenser interposed in said exhaust steam` line,vmeans controlled bythe maximum water c level in the tank for delivering cold water to bothof said condensers, and means controlled by the minimum water level inthe tank for delivering cold water to the second of said Jcondensersonly.

f 7. In a system of the class described, the combination of a boilerblow-ofi1 line, a boiler refill line, a boiler refill tank, a condensercommunicating with said tank and adapted to condense the'blown-oftnsteamand to discharge into said tank, both of said lines communicatingwith said condenser and adapted to discharge thereto, means forwithdrawing refill water from said tank and discharging :said water intosaid refill line, and means in said refill line controlled by the flowof steam in said blow-off line for governing the discharge of saidrefill line to said condenser.

8. In a system of the class described, the combination of a boilerblow-ofil line, a boiler refill line, a boiler refill tank, a condensercommunicating with said tank and adapted to condense the blown-off steamand to discharge into said tank, a normally closed connection betweensaid refill and said condenser, said blow-off line communicating withsaid condenser and adapted to discharge thereto, means in `said blow-offline operatively connected to said connection for opening the same whensteam is flowing in said blow-off line, and meansfor withdrawing waterfrom 'said tank and discharging said water into said refill line.

9. In a boiler blow-off' and refilling system, the combination of a rellwater tank, a blowoff steam line, a condenser in said line discharginginto said tank, a refill main, a pump connected to said tank and mainfor pumping refill water through the main to points of use forrefilling, and a pipe connected to said pump and condenser forconducting heated water directly from the tank under thermostaticcontrol of said blow-off` steam into said condenser for further heatingby the steam from said blow-ofi line.

10. LIn a boiler blow-ofi' and refilling system, the combination of arefill water tank, a blow-ofi' steam line, a condenser in said linedischarging into said tank, a refill main, a pump connected to said tankand main, a pipe connected with the discharge ofthe pump and with'saidcondenser and having a valve interposed therein, and thermostatic meansfor regulating said valve connected to said steam line actuated by theflow of steam to said condenser. v

1l. In a boiler blow-off and refilling system, the combination of arefill water tank, a blow-offl steam line, la condenser in said linedischarging into said tank, a refill main,

a pump connected to said tank and said main for pumping heated refillwater from the tank through said main to points of use for refilling,means for returning'part of the water beingpumped from'the tank directlyback to said tank through said condenser without causing it to' flowthrough said main, and

thermostatically controlled means connected I to said steam line and thefirst said means adapted for regulatingv the fiow of water through 4thefirst said means in accordance with the fiow ofl steam in said blow-offline.

12.` In a system of the class described, blowoff, wash-out and refilllines, a separator in the blow-off, line, a line for steam separated bythe separator, a refill tank connected with the 'refill line, acondenser discharging into said tank yand, connected with the refill andseparated-steam lines, thermostatic means in the Vseparated steamlinefor lcontrolling the delivery-"oreill lwaterftofthelcondenserycold and!introducing iin'tof'said'tan-k waterirofm a` I water pipesconnected'with said' condenserf cold-freshwater" supplyonly'whenthfwater andsaidtank,` means controlled bvfon'eiwater. level in said tanlfallsbel'owapredetermined level in thetankforregulating lthe delivery level." ofcold water to sa'id-condenseig` andfmeans controlledbyanotherwaterflevel in saidta'nk" for'regulating the delivery? of coldJwaterdirectly into'said' tank. l. v

13.I The methody of blowing fdown an'c'llre-y filling a locomotivecomprising` blowing olf the steam ands water; separating said steami andwater, discharging said',v steamfthrcughi a condenserinto aireill tank,condensing said steam by inj ecting'into said'condenser heated #waterpumpedfrom their'eiilfl tank, and reguflatingsaidinjection ofrefill'wateriin accord#v ance with a characteristic 'of rsaid separatedsteam.

14:k The` methodof Iblowing down and re- -filling 'af locomotivefcomprisingblowingofff the steaml rand water, separating` said` steam*and water; discharging. saidl steam through l a condenser `into azreilltank', condensingsai-d" steam byfinjecting-intofsaidcondenser heated"fswaterpumped from the reillftank, `regnlatj ingfsaidinjection'ofmll-water in` accordance' witha characteristicof said separatedsteam;VV Y

andfinjectin'g cold water into thel condenser when ythe rwaterlowersto-` onelevelin the tank,

fand adding cold water directly `to the tank* level. l

15i The method fof' blowing down" andre# when the Awater thereinlowers't'o r'another till-ingp locomotives comprising. blowing 'ofkrVthewsteamf'and water'from the" locomotives i simultaneously; separatingssaid. steam` from said' Water7 discharging the separated steamithrough' a condenser into areillstora'ge tank#- and saidY steam.' flows"intoisafidfv condenser :causing 'it to :mixI therein'with Vpreviouslyheated water pumped directly from the refillv f.

tankzintorsaidf condenser' under thermostatic control of'said separatedsteam-'to'b'e returned therefrom banket-ofthe'refillftank'v owingintoisaidcondenser.

filling locomotivesfcomprising blowing off thesteam and waiter from the"locomotives,sep" Y arati-n'g" sali-dv steam f* and water; discharginginto Isaild'tank 2whenever'- 'blown' offfseparated steam is beingdischarged finto thejcon'dens'er; refllirrgrtlej locomotivesrom'saidrelltan-kg 16. The "method-*of blowingidown andrei fillingflocomotivescomprising blowingiol thej steam and Water," separating said 'steanr andl water5y discharging theV separated vsteam into a condenser,,maintainingl albody offheated "Y i?! wat-er inafreiill storage tank,vandffcirculating l` from the tan-k into'saidcondenserand back againintor said tank1af`-stream`=Iofthe storedjf water whenever 'blown offseparatedsteam' is FRANKvw; Minnen.l o

